He said he would encourage church members to love and build relationships with members of the gay and transgender community, including to serve them equally in business environments.

But he thought an ordinance dictating they do so was inappropriate.

“My concern is that (the ordinance) is an assault on the First Amendment,” he said.

He said he was concerned such an ordinance would lead to others, such as ordinances that promoted homosexual views in schools or that mandated businesses such as faith-based adoption agencies arrange adoptions for gay couples.

“This is an incremental approach of an aggressive gay lobby,” he said.

He also said it could lead to protections for polyamorous and incestuous relationships.

Task force member Robert Saylor said many examples Lindell gave, such as anger, incest or chemical dependence, described situations in which individuals were potentially harmed, and thus not applicable to be compared to issues the task force is researching.

“We don’t legislate morality,” he said. “We legislate harm.”

Lindell said he was in favor of the issue being put to a vote of residents.

In addition to hearing from Lindell and briefly from subcommittee chairmen, task force chairman Miles Sweeney announced the creation of a faith subcommittee to the task force.

When a task force member asked what the faith subcommittee was charged with accomplishing, Sweeney said he wasn’t sure.

“I think the faith committee needs to invent themselves,” he said.

The committee will be chaired by Michael Overton, with David Trippe as vice chair. Also on the committee will be Steve Gardner, Dick Hardy, Rick McLain and Cindy Lear. Task force members Pam Sailors and Ginger Holczer may also assist with the subcommittee.

Previously existing subcommittees all reported that they needed to continue gathering information.